Knowledge Base

A reference guide to the Dell OptiPlex Diagnostic Indicators

Dell OptiPlex systems have a long history of built in diagnostic indicators. These can be audible beeps, power buttons that display different states and colours, specific diagnostics LEDs or a combination of them all, in order to indicate at which point during the Power On Self Test (POST) a system is having issues.

The following article is a reference guide to the codes available on each model and what those codes actually mean. These change through the various models and years. These indicators are merely a starting point to narrow down any troubleshooting you will carry out to identify the cause of your current issue. You can use this as a starting point to narrow down the proper troubleshooting guide you will need or you can contact technical support for further help and they will be looking for these indicators as well.

Note: Please remember that the diagnostic LEDs only serve as an indicator of the progress through the POST process. If the system doesn't show any LED's or only a Flashing Amber Power LED, then you could be looking at a Power issue before the POST starts. If this is the case then please go to the following article for further troubleshooting:

Note: For all the tables below, please remember that the diagnostic LEDs only serve as an indicator of the progress through the POST process. These LEDs do not indicate the problem that caused the POST routine to stop. You can find out more about this on the following article:

Note: Please be aware that if your system completes POST without stopping on a particular error code and then gives a black screen, the most likely reason is that you are experiencing a No Boot issue and not a No POST issue at all. You can find out more about this on the following article:

This series of systems had a block of A, B, C, D LEDs on the back of the chassis that lit up in Green and Amber. I've included a table below with what these indicated. These models were readily identifiable by the rounded fronts and clamshell assembly.

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This series had a combination of Power button LED states and the A, B, C, D, block was replaced with 1, 2, 3, 4, instead. The diagnostics LEDs moved from the rear of the chassis to the front under the audio ports. You could identify these models by their flat black front face and grey side panels/lids.

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With this series, the diagnostic LEDs changed to include a combination of the Power button LED state and the diagnostic LED indicators. The Diagnostic LEDs remain 1, 2, 3, 4, and placed on the front of the unit. You could identify these system by their flat black and grey front face.

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Reseat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

Bypass power strips, power extension cables, and other power protection devices to verify that the computer turns on properly.

Ensure that any power strips being used are plugged into an electrical outlet and are turned on.

Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board.

A possible system board failure has occurred.

Unplug the computer. Allow one minute for the power to drain. Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet and press the power button.

Blinking

A possible system board, power supply, or peripheral failure has occurred.

Power off computer, leaving the computer plugged in. Press and hold the power supply test button on the rear of the power supply unit. If the LED next to the switch illuminates, the problem may be with your system board.

If the LED next to the switch does not illuminate, disconnect all internal and external peripherals, and press and hold the power supply test button.If it illuminates, there could be a problem with a peripheral.

If the LED still does not illuminate, remove the PSU connections from the system board, then press and hold the power supply button. If it illuminates, there could be a problem with the system board.

If the LED still does not illuminate, the problem is probably with the power supply.

No CPU present.

Reinstall the CPU and restart the system. If the computer still fails to boot, inspect the CPU socket for damage.

If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules, then reinstall one module and restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, continue to install additional memory modules (one at a time) until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error. If only one memory module is installed, try moving it to a different DIMM connector and restart the computer.

If available, install verified working memory of the same type into your computer.

A possible CPU or system board failure has occurred.

Replace the CPU with a known good CPU. If the computer still fails to boot, inspect the CPU socket for damage.

BIOS may be corrupt or missing.

The computer hardware is operating normally but the BIOS may be corrupt or missing.

A possible system board failure has occurred.

Remove all peripheral cards from the PCI and PCI-E slots and restart the computer. If the computer boots, add the peripheral cards back one by one until you find the bad one.

Power connector not installed properly.

Reseat the 2x2 power connector from the power supply unit.

Possible peripheral card or system board failure has occurred.

Remove all peripheral cards from the PCI and PCI-E slots and restart the computer. If the computer boots, add the peripheral cards back one by one until you find the bad one.

A possible system board failure has occurred.

Disconnect all internal and external peripherals, and restart the computer. If the computer boots, add the peripheral cards back one by one until you find the bad one.

If the problem persists, the system board is probably bad.

A possible coin cell battery failure has occurred.

Remove the coin cell battery for one minute, reinstall the battery, and restart.

The computer is in a normal on condition. The diagnostic lights are not lit after the computer successfully boots to the operating system.

If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules (see your service manual), then reinstall one module (see your service manual and restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, continue to install additional memory modules (one at a time) until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

If available, install working memory of the same type into your computer.

If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules (see your service manual), then reinstall one module (see your service manual) and restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, continue to install additional memory modules (one at a time) until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

If available, install working memory of the same type into your computer.

Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error has occurred.

Ensure that no special requirements for memory module/connector placement exist.

Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer.

A possible expansion card failure has occurred.

Determine if a conflict exists by removing an expansion card (not a graphics card) and restarting the computer.

If the problem persists, reinstall the card you removed, then remove a different card and restart the computer.

Repeat this process for each expansion card installed. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts.

A possible system board resource and/or hardware failure has occurred.

Clear CMOS.

Disconnect all internal and external peripherals, and restart the computer. If the computer boots, add the peripheral cards back one by one until you find the bad one.

If the problem persists, the system board / system board component is probably bad.

Another failure has occurred.

Ensure that all hard drive and optical drive cables are properly connected to the system board.

If there is an error message on the screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device to make sure it is functioning properly.

If the operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or optical drive), check system setup to ensure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.

With the latest series, the diagnostics indicator LEDs have been removed. Instead the Power Button state now gives a blink and colour shift pattern to indicate where its had a problem. You can identify these systems by the fact that there is no Diagnostics LED block on the front of the unit.

Note: If you have an OptiPlex AIO (All In One) System. Please use the reference tables below.

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Memory subsystem configuration activity is in progress. No memory modules were detected.

If customer can assist to troubleshoot, narrow down the issue by removing one by one the memory on motherboard to determine which one failed. Also, combining the configuration to validate appropriate combination.

If identified the component failed, replace the component.

If none of the component failed, replace the motherboard.

S9

MBF

3, 6

3 blinks followed by a short pause, 6 blinks, long pause, then repeats

System board failure

Fatal system board failure detected.

If customer can assist to troubleshoot, narrow down the issue by removing one by one the component on motherboard to determine which one failed.

If identified any of the component failed, replace the component.

If none of the component failed, replace the motherboard.

S10

MEM

3, 7

3 blinks followed by a short pause, 7 blinks, long pause, then repeats

Memory subsystem configuration activity is in progress. Memory modules have been detected but appear to be incompatible or in an invalid configuration.

If customer can assist to troubleshoot, narrow down the issue by removing one by one the memory on motherboard to determine which one failed.

If identified the memory failed, replace the memory.

If else, replace the motherboard.

Note: On any OptiPlex built since 2012 (i.e. 7010/9010/9010 AIO), Dell has stopped using every beep code - except for the Memory Failure code (1,3,2 or 1 beep, then 3 beeps, then 2 beeps). If your system was built after 2012 and is making any other beep code, please contact technical support for further help.

In addition to the various types of diagnostics LEDs, there are a number of audible beep codes across all the models of these systems.

These codes are recognised across manufacturers and have remained the same for some time.

The key to these codes are displayed in the table below.

Note: You can also find out about error messaging in your systems manual. You can go to the Manuals section of the support site for your particular system. (Enter your service tag or pick your system from the product list.)

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Note: On any OptiPlex built since 2012 (i.e. 7010/9010/9010 AIO), Dell has stopped using every beep code - except for the Memory Failure code (1,3,2 or 1 beep, then 3 beeps, then 2 beeps). If your system was built after 2012 and is making any other beep code, please contact technical support for further help.

Note:
If you are seeing a recognisable code, please follow the instructions and if you have to contact your local support - please make sure you have the code information to hand. The technician will need this information to help you further.

If you are seeing an unrecognisable code, one that isn't listed above - then please get in touch with your local support straight away.